Gambling in the Early Centuries

1
1541

The Unlawful Games Act 1541 makes gambling in England essentially illegal. King Henry VIII was afraid that sports and games such as bowls, tennis, dice, and cards were diverting the attention of the male population from their military-related duties, and the Act was a result of those fears. Several parts of this act were in force until the 1845 Gaming Act, while the 1960 Betting and Gaming Act revised the rest of them.